New member

[Guest guest]

I order the 30guage and 1 inch needles from researchsupply.net I received 100 so I'll have them in my second go around

New Member> > > Hello:> > I am just getting the hcg from a lab--after paying more than your > suggested places 8~(. Next time, I will do it differently. However, > I am okay with it though maybe will wish I had done it differently > later. 8~)> > I have been overweight since 1996 when I had my last child. As I've > gone through menopause, I found I gained more and more, and now I am > up well over 200#. I should weigh about 140.> > I HATE the weight, and I have been so depressed with my weight, I have > felt like life was not worth living. I tried Atkins, but of course, I > couldn't stay on that kind of eating plan for more than 30-45 days. > Once I plateaued at 190 each time I tried it again, I couldn't get my > weight down past that, and I just started cheating on the diet. I > tried Weight Watchers, but that was worthless for me. Every time I > eat bread, I put on a pound, and they allow me to have some starch > (which seems to make me gain). I've tried starving, and of course, > that didn't work. I've considered Craig, but I get bad > headaches when I don't eat food, so I am scared of that diet.> > Knowing you have more than 60 pounds and suggested a year to do it is > too discouraging and disheartening to stay with it. And I have been > scared out of my mind about looking like a bag when I'm done--i.e. > drooping skin, hanging from a bag of bones. People said, "Oh, you're > skin will adjust." Sure! When? After menopause? Okay...> > When I saw this protocol, I thought it was the answer to my dreams.> > Now I've ordered the hcg, and it is due Monday, and I'm scared to > death of injecting myself! Gosh, I'm sitting here in a cold sweat > thinking about it. I'm not sure I can do it, and NOBODY else can do > it for me either. I don't have anyone who would.> > So how did you get past the self injecting?> > And does it work, really work?> > Thanks.> > Kay> > > > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------> > > No virus found in this incoming message.> Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.5.476 / Virus Database: 269.9.14/883 - Release Date: 7/1/07 12:19 PM>

No virus found in this incoming message.Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.476 / Virus Database: 269.9.14/883 - Release Date: 7/1/07 12:19 PM

[Guest guest]

Hi Earline,

My name is Dennis. I am a 56 year old male (retired one year ago) and was diagnosed with spinal stenosis about a year ago but have had symptons for over 2 years now. I only have pain when I stand or walk. No pain when I sit or lay down. It is getting steadily worse now and I can no longer even stand long enough to cook myself any breakfast or shop for groceries without using the little handicapped cart. I had a cortizone shot the end of May which only somewhat helped for about 3 weeks. I really dont want to have any surgery if I dont have to but my doctor says that's about the only option last. I really hate this disease. It takes away your quality of life and makes you feel 100 year old. I hope I haven't scared you off now. You might want to try to cortizone shots next. Good Luck.

DennisGet a sneak peek of the all-new AOL.com.

[Guest guest]

Dear Pat,

I would like to help welcome you to the group. I have Reiter's

Syndrome and I too am HLA-B27 positive. I am a 30 year old female

that was diagnosed with this disease a year ago this month.

Apparently from my medical record since I was not what my doctor

called a text book case-I have most likely have had this disease for

many years.

Yea, there are times that I get that weird look too from people that

have a hard time understanding why I have difficulty standing or

walking some days. Mine has never gone into remission. Apparently

so far I am not one of the lucky ones-however, I do know that it

could be a lot worse. There are people that have had this disease

for years and years and have never had any remission.

You stated that you were told that you were HLA-B27 positive-do you

have a diagnoses of which disease that you may have? They are the

same in some ways while they are also different.

You speak of neck and shoulder pain. I can totally relate. There

are times that I have hard time raising my arm because of it-I

haven't had a problem like that in a while-which I count as a

blessing.

I hope that now that you are a part of the group that you realize

that you are not alone in dealing with this. There are several

people here that can relate to the pain, the embarrassment when you

realize that you can't do like you could before and the depression

that you may suffer from at times because you feel that it is

hopeless that you are not going to get any better. But, some of us

get better and go into full remission and with it-a spark of hope

for the rest of us.

I hope to hear from you again soon and if you have any questions or

feel like just whinning and complaining sometime-believe me I have

done the same on many occassions-feel free to contact me.

Barbara

[Guest guest]

Hi Pat

Welcome to our merry bunch of travellers on life's journey.

I am Fr. Dave, the Vice President of the RISG and co moderator on the list. I

have had this junk for over 30 years. I am also HLA B7 positive. I

automatically sit at the head of the table at our house, of course being a round

table, the head depends on where you orient your postion from. But most folks

let me sit there anyway.

Fr. Dave

[Guest guest]

Hi Barbara - thank you for the welcome. It occurred to me last night that I

misstated the year of diagnosis. I was found positive in 1991. And I'm

thinking that clarified will make my answers make more sense? My diagnosis

was through the back door and it didn't seem that there was a whole lot of

info out there at the time. I was working as an accountant for a law firm -

lots of time (too much) on the computer with a mouse in my hand! My arm

swelled and shoulder got so painful that they put me on workman's comp. It

was discovered that I had a torn rotator cuff and many spurs in my shoulder,

plus the expected wrist complications. They sent me to therapy. After

several months and no improvement (working only a couple of hours a day) -

they decided that perhaps I had bone cancer as I had all the symptoms. My

doctor was a sports med guy. He of course ran tests and no - no cancer.

But he found other factors that led to a referral to a rheumatologist. At

that appointment he (rheum) decided that he was sure I had AS based on

multiple questions regarding history of pain and joint problems. He ran the

test and I was B27 positive. At that point, based on Xrays, he didn't find

any fusing - so spondyloarthropothy was the official diagnosis. He told me

that I would eventually have AS.

At that time there wasn't a whole lot of information about AS. And I don't

know if there was info that it could be something other than that. I had

the impression from him that B27=AS. :-) Now of course there's plenty of

evidence to the contrary. He also diagnosed some gout on occasion, fibro,

etc but said that to always seek treatment for the AS as it was the primary

problem.

I have never been pain free - and that would be true back to at least

adolescence if not before. I'm now 52. So I guess no remission for me

either, although as with all of us - good days and bad days. The good days

usually are a result of pain meds! :-)

I live in a fairly small town, not a lot of specialists and have the

limitation of no insurance. I wish there was a definite diagnosis. That

might help. I've been told (by GP's) that the shoulder/neck problems would

indicate something other than AS. I have reached the point where my feet

and legs are tingly/numb almost all of the time (including sleeping) and in

pain. Funny thing - when one says " numb " most folks don't understand that

there's extreme pain in that huh? :-)

You're so right about the depression. Usually I'm able to keep that under

control. I would put all of the " I'm not the same. " stuff under that

umbrella. And of course there are the side effects of meds that leave us

out of the norm, huh? But it sure is nice to have others who understand!

Thanks again for the warm welcome!

Pat

[Guest guest]

Hi, .

I took a year to get diagnosed, and my dx was made based on X-ray and the fact

that I had elevated sedimentation and no rheumatoid factor. Ankylosing

spondylitis runs in my family, and the X-ray was done to rule it out. I had

inflammation in my sacroiliac joints, but up until the last few months most of

my symptoms have been in my peripheral joints.

I took NSAIDs for several years but had a reaction to Daypro in March and have

been on Vicodin since then. Going to Vicodin for pain management really

rearranged my life. It keeps me awake rather than sedating me. I am a full-time

seminary student, and I have had to learn the art of doing my homework when I am

awake and catching naps when I am not medicated. I am visually impaired due to

premature birth. This means that I do a lot of walking and a lot of other things

that are probably aggravating my condition. I scan all of my books into the

computer so that I can read them with synthetic speech output. This is great in

terms of accessibility but very hard on my upper body--it's like doing a whole

lot of photocopying.

I have been on Prednisone since May, but I'm not tolerating it well in the long

term due to CNS side effects. It has allowed me to have the stamina I needed to

keep doing normal things for a while. I started Sulfasalazine a couple of months

ago, and I don't know whether this will help or not. I have a whole lot of pain

lately that I have not had in the past...

I feel very much like a drama queen whenever I write or talk about all of this;

so usually I don't. But I am now finding myself griping because Vicodin doesn't

do much for me. That is scary.

J. Blake

Personal mail to:

sjblake@...

http://www.growingstrong.org

I'm protected by SpamBrave

http://www.spambrave.com/

[Guest guest]

Dear Pat,

I can totally relate to the feeling of being outside the norm. I am

not working-even though I have tried getting a sit down job like my

doctor has suggested since his opinion is plus because of the pain-

that I can no longer work standing on my feet. That was pretty

crushing since as a single parent of many years that is all that I

have ever known. Plus it doesn't help that I was born into a family

of women that raised me to believe that just because I was a girl

didn't mean I couldn't work like a man. Well, it was a blow to the

pride since I have worked many jobs over the years such as yard

maintenace, rebuilt boat docks, worked on cars, cashier, and so on.

At one time it is hard to believe that I could work 80-90 hours a

week standing on my head. LOL! Not anymore!

And I will have to admitt and agree with you a good day is usually

the result of pain meds! I know that when I have to cook dinner I

really have to have them then. I cannot stand for long peroids or

sit for long peroids.

I can also relate to the fact dealing with insurance and such. I do

not have medical insurance since I had just started a new job when I

had a full blown flare. And because of my pervious back history

they would not pay. I don't qualify for medicaid since my ex

husband pays childsupport which is a little over $200 a month-the

money cut off to qaulify is $163.00 a month. So I make due with

what I can get paid if anything. Most of the time I have to scrape

just to be able to buy my meds.

I just recently gotten a new doctor at the clinic that I attend. My

other doctor had moved to Tenn. I am already having problems with

this new doc. I have been trying to get my new refill on my pain

meds for three days. It took two days for the refill nurse there to

get it into the computer-then he refused the request. I thought

well I will talk with him to find out what the problem is when I go

to the appointment that I was suppose to have yesterday morning. I

get to the clinic and they loose all power to the computers and to

the building so everyone had to leave which meant I couldn't get in

to see him. Tell me about luck.

Well, I ended up saying " screw it " . And I went to the minor E.R. for

my pain relief since I woke up that morning with my sciatic nerve

dancing on me. So at least for the next couple of days I have some

pain meds to help me until I can talk with this doc.

I have applied for my disabililty. They turned me down the first

time saying that in their opinion that I was not disabled enough to

get my benefits and that I could back to work working fast food

which was supposely my last job. First of all, the last job that I

had was working as a cashier in a convience store and second, I can

not stand for long peroids of time-even my pervious doc states no

standing for more than two hours a day. When I asked him what he

meant-he explained to me that I would have to sit down from time to

time in that two hours peroid so I would not aggervate my condition

and increase my pain level. Apparently none of those people who

reviewed my app has ever worked fast food and last time I worked it-

you have to stand on your feet for hours and I can't do that.

Makes you wonder who in the world do we have making these

decisions. I have appealed my app. I am hoping in the next few

weeks to hear back from them. If I get turned down again I am

getting a lawyer. I have to get something going for me-because I

have two children to raise. And last time I checked - a family of

three living off of less than a $1000 a month ( my oldest girl gets

disability due to the cancer that she used to have )doesn't cut it.

I do live with my boyfriend, who helps as much as he can-he works

and it is taking every dime that he is making to help pay the bills

around here plus help me as much as he can with buying my meds.

I just wished that when I had turned 30 that someone had warned me

that my warranty was going to run out. LOL! I guess I better quit

complaining and get off of here.

You mentioned that you had a high sed rate. I didn't it was a

little over 20, even though I was walking like the hunchback off

that Disney movie and dragging a leg behind me. When I was

diagnosed, it was mainly my legs and my back that was a problem-

however, over the last several months I have started having problems

with my neck as well as my hands but I am walking more up right

except most days I wobble or hobble to and from. For me to drive my

boyfriend bought a really thick steering wheel cover to make it

easier for me to grip the wheel when I drive. Best $5 bucks he ever

spent! LOL!!

Barbara

[Guest guest]

Hi - I'm thankful to have found this group as well. I'm sure

everyone else knows, but what is USpA??

I have a reaction to NSAIDs - did within a year or two of my diagnosis.

Ocassionally they try to put me back on them. I can get away with one here

and there - but continuous dosages for a couple of days and I'm way out in

space - the make me so dizzy the world is upside down. :-) I was told that

steroids wouldn't help - but that was way back when. I certainly don't want

to get that started if I can avoid it.

I too take pain meds as sparingly as possible. There's all the side effects

and the threat that eventually one develops a tolerance. So I play games to

stretch them out for longer than prescribed. But there are days that I

wouldn't function without them sadly.

I bet you really miss nursing. That's one of those jobs I believe people

are called to - those are the toughest to give up. How old is your

daughter? I pray that she's not showing signs of inheritance????

Yes this does cause us to have a different view of suffering. I'm not able

to work a full time job anymore, but was blessed with a couple of skills

that allow me to freelance. While it doesn't have the $ or security, it's

better than nothing & I'm fortunate to be able for the most part to set my

own schedule. Not everyone has that freedom of course. One thing - it has

allowed me to do some things that a 9 to 5 job wouldn't in terms of

volunteer stuff. That's been fun and again I can generally make it work

because it's flexible!

Pat

[Guest guest]

Hi - I'm like you - Vicodin is the ultimate keep me awake drug. And

doesn't stop the pain. I tried to explain to the doc (when I refused to

take it anymore) - that she had no idea what it was like to still be in pain

and now artificially, totally wide awake!!! :-)

Where are you a seminary student? I certainly admire your determination and

can only imagine that scanning the books to help read is an irritation to

your joints! I just today delivered a bunch of papers to a non-profit for

shredding. It makes me nervous - they were old tax forms, etc. Stuff that

could be trouble. But I'm just no longer able to keep my shoulder suspended

to feed the papers through the shredder at home. So trust, huh? (Prayers

as well :-))

Pat

[Guest guest]

Barbara, I relate to everything you said. You sound like me. Hang in there

girl you are not alone. There's a BUNCH of us in the same boat with you. I just

try to keep rowing but sometimes I just cant row. YES a good day for me is

the pain meds mostly. It amazes me that the medical community (mostly) is

completely ignorant to our afflictions. I cant work any more either & am

applying

for SSI next week. We scrape by also.I just wanted to let you know that your

not alone in this battle! Marty

************************************** Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL at

http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour

[Guest guest]

Hi, Pat.

I am at University, just northeast of Indianapolis. Keeping going is

about the only thing that is keeping me sane. I cannot deal emotionally with the

iea of being too disabled to work and being single, so I keep going as long as

I can...

I had a bit of a breakthrough with my pain yesterday. I had run out of some of

my vitamin supplements, and I found when I restarted them that they made enough

difference that Vicodin took most of the pain away. I was very surprised since I

had been questioning whether they were really very helpful. I don't mind the

wide awake part if there is a good reason. I just alter my sleep schedule.

J. Blake

Personal mail to:

sjblake@...

http://www.growingstrong.org

I'm protected by SpamBrave

http://www.spambrave.com/

[Guest guest]

Barbara, I know this is kind of a few months later, but I wondered if you got

your money and insurance problems taken care of? Or did you have to get an

attorney? I have been feeling out of the norm for years. Looking really good,

but can't do much with this body. Even the ex husbands thought I was faking it,

until the dr put me in the hospital for months at a time. Then they left me.

What duds, If they had been sick, I would have taken care of them. Oh well, they

are gone, and I will stay single. I was wondering about the insurance deal,

because the Social Services can't use your child support as your income. I use

to work for the government in that dept. and that is counted as their income,

not yours. Anyway, I hope you got all of that taken care of. Life is tough when

you are sick and have to fight to get your meds and see a dr., and the

government knows that. Keep trying. D. in Oregon

Re: new member

Dear Pat,

I can totally relate to the feeling of being outside the norm. I am

not working-even though I have tried getting a sit down job like my

doctor has suggested since his opinion is plus because of the pain-

that I can no longer work standing on my feet. That was pretty

crushing since as a single parent of many years that is all that I

have ever known. Plus it doesn't help that I was born into a family

of women that raised me to believe that just because I was a girl

didn't mean I couldn't work like a man. Well, it was a blow to the

pride since I have worked many jobs over the years such as yard

maintenace, rebuilt boat docks, worked on cars, cashier, and so on.

At one time it is hard to believe that I could work 80-90 hours a

week standing on my head. LOL! Not anymore!

And I will have to admitt and agree with you a good day is usually

the result of pain meds! I know that when I have to cook dinner I

really have to have them then. I cannot stand for long peroids or

sit for long peroids.

I can also relate to the fact dealing with insurance and such. I do

not have medical insurance since I had just started a new job when I

had a full blown flare. And because of my pervious back history

they would not pay. I don't qualify for medicaid since my ex

husband pays childsupport which is a little over $200 a month-the

money cut off to qaulify is $163.00 a month. So I make due with

what I can get paid if anything. Most of the time I have to scrape

just to be able to buy my meds.

I just recently gotten a new doctor at the clinic that I attend. My

other doctor had moved to Tenn. I am already having problems with

this new doc. I have been trying to get my new refill on my pain

meds for three days. It took two days for the refill nurse there to

get it into the computer-then he refused the request. I thought

well I will talk with him to find out what the problem is when I go

to the appointment that I was suppose to have yesterday morning. I

get to the clinic and they loose all power to the computers and to

the building so everyone had to leave which meant I couldn't get in

to see him. Tell me about luck.

Well, I ended up saying " screw it " . And I went to the minor E.R. for

my pain relief since I woke up that morning with my sciatic nerve

dancing on me. So at least for the next couple of days I have some

pain meds to help me until I can talk with this doc.

I have applied for my disabililty. They turned me down the first

time saying that in their opinion that I was not disabled enough to

get my benefits and that I could back to work working fast food

which was supposely my last job. First of all, the last job that I

had was working as a cashier in a convience store and second, I can

not stand for long peroids of time-even my pervious doc states no

standing for more than two hours a day. When I asked him what he

meant-he explained to me that I would have to sit down from time to

time in that two hours peroid so I would not aggervate my condition

and increase my pain level. Apparently none of those people who

reviewed my app has ever worked fast food and last time I worked it-

you have to stand on your feet for hours and I can't do that.

Makes you wonder who in the world do we have making these

decisions. I have appealed my app. I am hoping in the next few

weeks to hear back from them. If I get turned down again I am

getting a lawyer. I have to get something going for me-because I

have two children to raise. And last time I checked - a family of

three living off of less than a $1000 a month ( my oldest girl gets

disability due to the cancer that she used to have )doesn't cut it.

I do live with my boyfriend, who helps as much as he can-he works

and it is taking every dime that he is making to help pay the bills

around here plus help me as much as he can with buying my meds.

I just wished that when I had turned 30 that someone had warned me

that my warranty was going to run out. LOL! I guess I better quit

complaining and get off of here.

You mentioned that you had a high sed rate. I didn't it was a

little over 20, even though I was walking like the hunchback off

that Disney movie and dragging a leg behind me. When I was

diagnosed, it was mainly my legs and my back that was a problem-

however, over the last several months I have started having problems

with my neck as well as my hands but I am walking more up right

except most days I wobble or hobble to and from. For me to drive my

boyfriend bought a really thick steering wheel cover to make it

easier for me to grip the wheel when I drive. Best $5 bucks he ever

spent! LOL!!

Barbara

[Guest guest]

Dear ,

I have yet to resolve my money and insurance issues. The good news

is that my ex husband has stop making childsupport payments for the

moment which is a good thing due to the fact that will drop me below

the income level since the state doesn't count my daughter's SSI.

This should allow me to get my medicaid which will be able to help me

purchase several of the medications that my doctor has wanted to put

me on but I could not afford to purchase.

I was in the appeal process when I recieved a set of papers that I

had already filled out and thought that it was the extra set that I

had lost and requested which I later found and turned in. Come to

find out it was a set that I needed to fill out again - why I don't

know since I had already filled them out twice before. But, anyways,

apparently a letter came in telling me there was a certain date that

these papers needed to be in by. Thanks to either the kiddo's or the

boyfriend I didn't know about the letter until after the deadline.

So I am going (I guess) to have to refile all over again.

Barbara

>

>

> Barbara, I know this is kind of a few months later, but I wondered

if you got your money and insurance problems taken care of?

D. in Oregon

>

[Guest guest]

I like your slogan... " Fibromites Unite!! " Sounds like a winner to

me!

>

> Hello everyone! I am so excited about this support group! I was

> diagnosed with FMS about 5 years ago but I am sure I had it much

> earlier.I have been to several different doctors and have been

given

> the usual RXs- Elavil at night, Xanax for anxiety (which is a big

> problem for me)Lexapro which I don't take anymore because it did

> nothing to help, Trazadone which put me on another planet-scary!

> Anyway, my symptoms are complicated by menopause(I'm 46)which

doesn't

> help matters! The hardest part for me is the total lack of

> understanding from my family-I have begged my husband to read some

of

> the info I have compiled but I guess he can't be bothered.He has

even

> said that he is married to a " cripple " .I am very happy to be

> surrounded by understanding new friends with the same type of

issues

> and concerns as mine.As of yesterday my doctor has given me the

new RX

> drug Lyrica(FDA approved for FMS). Anyone else taking that? I'll

> keep you posted on how it works for me.Thank you so much Dominie

and

> to you for a forum to network and make new friends!

> Fibromites Unite!!! (lol.. my new slogan) ~Beth

>

[Guest guest]

I love the slogan too. here is another one - BEWARE ! THE FIBROTISED FIBROMITES ARE HERE! SHELLY <funny_dumplin@...> wrote: I like your slogan..."Fibromites Unite!!" Sounds like a winner to me! >> Hello everyone! I am so excited about this support group! I was> diagnosed with FMS about 5 years ago but I am sure I had it much>

earlier.I have been to several different doctors and have been given> the usual RXs- Elavil at night, Xanax for anxiety (which is a big> problem for me)Lexapro which I don't take anymore because it did> nothing to help, Trazadone which put me on another planet-scary!> Anyway, my symptoms are complicated by menopause(I'm 46)which doesn't> help matters! The hardest part for me is the total lack of> understanding from my family-I have begged my husband to read some of> the info I have compiled but I guess he can't be bothered.He has even> said that he is married to a "cripple".I am very happy to be> surrounded by understanding new friends with the same type of issues> and concerns as mine.As of yesterday my doctor has given me the new RX> drug Lyrica(FDA approved for FMS). Anyone else taking that? I'll> keep you posted on how it works for me.Thank you so much

Dominie and> to you for a forum to network and make new friends! > Fibromites Unite!!! (lol.. my new slogan) ~Beth>

[Guest guest]

That's a good one too! Brecker <davidbrecker@...> wrote: I love the slogan too. here is another one - BEWARE ! THE FIBROTISED FIBROMITES ARE HERE! SHELLY <funny_dumplin@...> wrote: I like your slogan..."Fibromites Unite!!" Sounds like a winner to me! >> Hello everyone! I am so excited about this support group! I was> diagnosed with FMS about 5 years ago but I am sure I had it much> earlier.I have been to several different doctors and have been given> the usual RXs- Elavil at night, Xanax for anxiety (which is a big> problem for me)Lexapro which I don't take anymore because it did> nothing to help, Trazadone which put me on another planet-scary!> Anyway, my symptoms are complicated by menopause(I'm 46)which doesn't> help matters! The hardest part for me is the total lack of> understanding from my family-I have begged my husband to read some of> the info I have compiled but I guess he

can't be bothered.He has even> said that he is married to a "cripple".I am very happy to be> surrounded by understanding new friends with the same type of issues> and concerns as mine.As of yesterday my doctor has given me the new RX> drug Lyrica(FDA approved for FMS). Anyone else taking that? I'll> keep you posted on how it works for me.Thank you so much Dominie and> to you for a forum to network and make new friends! > Fibromites Unite!!! (lol.. my new slogan) ~Beth>

Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Mobile. Try it now.

[Guest guest]

Hi - I too was just diag. with fibromyalgia. My dr. says possible fibro and will not commit to a diag. as I am finding out alot of drs. will not diag. fibro. I have been on Lyrica for about a month now and do see a little improvement. Still have those good days [ rare ] but do still have my bad days. I am experiencing some side affects of Lyrica - light headed, dizzy, extreme fatigue , blurred vision - although my dr says these shouls subside. I was also started on Cymbalta at the same time , so this may be the cause also. Let me know how this works for you - I am curious to see if any one else experiences these side affects. Thanx and have a great holiday. See AOL's top rated recipes and easy ways to stay in shape for winter.

[Guest guest]

I have been taking Lyrica for a couple of months now and I'm getting very good results. In fact, I feel better than I've felt in months--maybe even years.

Pam

New member

Hello everyone! I am so excited about this support group! I wasdiagnosed with FMS about 5 years ago but I am sure I had it muchearlier.I have been to several different doctors and have been giventhe usual RXs- Elavil at night, Xanax for anxiety (which is a bigproblem for me)Lexapro which I don't take anymore because it didnothing to help, Trazadone which put me on another planet-scary!Anyway, my symptoms are complicated by menopause(I'm 46)which doesn'thelp matters! The hardest part for me is the total lack ofunderstanding from my family-I have begged my husband to read some ofthe info I have compiled but I guess he can't be bothered.He has evensaid that he is married to a "cripple".I am very happy to besurrounded by understanding new friends with the same type of issuesand concerns as mine.As of yesterday my doctor has given me the new RXdrug Lyrica(FDA approved for FMS). Anyone else taking that? I'llkeep you posted on how it works for me.Thank you so much Dominie andto you for a forum to network and make new friends! Fibromites Unite!!! (lol.. my new slogan) ~Beth

[Guest guest]

HI Cymbalta put me in the hospital with a serious migraine. Migraines are part of Fibro too. I have had migraine for 22 years. msmithmuskegon@... wrote: Hi - I too was just diag. with fibromyalgia. My dr. says possible fibro and will not commit to a diag. as I am finding out alot of drs. will not diag. fibro. I have been on Lyrica for about a month now and do see a little improvement. Still have those good days [ rare ] but do still have my bad days. I am

experiencing some side affects of Lyrica - light headed, dizzy, extreme fatigue , blurred vision - although my dr says these shouls subside. I was also started on Cymbalta at the same time , so this may be the cause also. Let me know how this works for you - I am curious to see if any one else experiences these side affects. Thanx and have a great holiday. See AOL's top rated recipes and easy ways to stay in

shape for winter.

[Guest guest]

Hi , I have only taken it for 2 nights but I seem to be fatigued(more than usual) no dizziness but my dr is starting with a low dose(50mg) and gradually increasing it.She says all of her patients on Lyrica have seen improvement and feel better. I guess we'll see.Bethmsmithmuskegon@... wrote: Hi - I too was just diag. with fibromyalgia. My dr. says possible fibro and will not commit to a diag. as I am finding out alot of drs. will not diag. fibro. I have been on Lyrica for about a month now and do see a little improvement. Still have those good days [ rare ] but do still have my bad days. I am experiencing some side affects of

Lyrica - light headed, dizzy, extreme fatigue , blurred vision - although my dr says these shouls subside. I was also started on Cymbalta at the same time , so this may be the cause also. Let me know how this works for you - I am curious to see if any one else experiences these side affects. Thanx and have a great holiday. See AOL's top rated recipes and easy ways to stay in shape for winter.

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[Guest guest]

I'd get her in a specialized exercise program right away. There's a DVD called

Yoga for Scoliosis that gives instructions as to how to do the exercises

depending on the direction(s) of the curve(s). Also, there are a number of

different therapies that can be beneficial especially when she's young and

hasn't progressed. Now is the time.

New Member

OUr 12 year was diagnosed 4 months ago with a 28 degree.

Besides her follow up appts I have no experience with scoliosis and am

trying to figure out what our options are.

Her Dr said he doesn't start bracing till 35 degrees-standard?

Also she does have a undefined muscular myopathy-leads us to be

concerned about lungs and heart. She is quite well with the exception

of tiring a bit quickly.

Hoping to get some great advice and options.

Thanks

Diane

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[Guest guest]

Diane,

How frequently are you seeing the doc for monitoring

the curve? Has he sent you to physical therapy?

In all of the research I've done over the years,

bracing slows down the progression and doesn't correct

a curve. Some curves do not progress beyond a certain

degree and do not require further treatment.

Whether he's gotten you in pt or not, I'd have her be

very active and build up her muscles as much as she

can. At least a few times of PT is good if you don't

plan to go on a regular basis. That way, they can show

you appropriate exercises. If you build up the muscles

at the ends of the curve they can actually pull the

curve into a greater degree. ~Moonbeam

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[Guest guest]

Thank you- the orthopedic specialist said that if the scoliosis was " idopathic "

which he thought it was, then there is absolutely nothing to do for it. He said

PT or stretching was good for comfort level but would not prevent further

curvature or correct anything- sounds like there are other approaches then what

he offered.

I will look into it.

Thanks

Diane

New Member

OUr 12 year was diagnosed 4 months ago with a 28 degree.

Besides her follow up appts I have no experience with scoliosis and am

trying to figure out what our options are.

Her Dr said he doesn't start bracing till 35 degrees-standard?

Also she does have a undefined muscular myopathy-leads us to be

concerned about lungs and heart. She is quite well with the exception

of tiring a bit quickly.

Hoping to get some great advice and options.

Thanks

Diane

____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _

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know-it-all with Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile. /

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[Guest guest]

Get yourself to a good scoliosis specialist. I have scoliosis and had 3

surgeries. The last one with Dr. Boachie in NYC. Thank God for him. Anyway I

was keeping a close eye on my kids and my daughter at around 12 was diagnosed

with scoliosis. In October it was 15 degrees thoracic and 5 lumbar. When

she was x-rayed again 3 months later she had progressed to 21 degrees/15

degrees. That is when I took her to Dr. Boachie. He had explained to me you

need

to brace a child before they complete puberty and their bones are completely

done growing. The object in bracing is to keep the curve from getting worse

while they are in this stage. The theory is that if you can keep a curve

below 35 degrees after reaching puberty, the curve should not progress into

adulthood. Not only did he keep her curve from progressing he got it back down

to 12 degrees/0 degrees. She wore a Spinecore brace for 2 years. I did a

lot of research and everything he said is the true opinion of most scoliosis

specialists. Don't wait until your daughter is worse. Get her to someone who

really knows this disease - not just an orthopedist. Sometimes even bracing

won't keep a curve from progressing. He said he would know that within 6

months if the brace was working or not. It was definitely worth doing the

research and the pain in the neck of riding into the city every month. We both

go

for check-ups with Dr. Boachie in 2 weeks. He is still monitoring her but

so far so good.

Good luck,

Kathy

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[Guest guest]

PT is a bit complicated for our child- she has an undefined myopathy- basically,

she really doesn't build muscle well, I suspect that has been partly responsible

for the scoliosis, but I think the Dr is not ready to concede. She very mildly

affected. She has a couple refresher appts with a PT every few years for more

stretching then building-

Currently, the Dr wants to see her every 6 months. It is fortunate that she was

an early bloomer- she past the starting point about 2 years ago... It seemed

like from what he said, if it is idiopathic,then when she is done growing odds

are it should stabilize?

THe big question- she complains of hurting really in all her muscles and joints,

however a lot in her hands- they are stiff and weak especially after inactivity,

also one of her hips hurts horribly after walking- he did xray her hip and found

nothing, also have seen the podiatrist and Rheumy who found nothing. At 28

degrees, can that cause pain? The Orthopedic thinks there is something else

going on and not the scoliosis...

Should we get a second opinion?

Thanks

Diane

Re:New Member

Diane,

How frequently are you seeing the doc for monitoring

the curve? Has he sent you to physical therapy?

In all of the research I've done over the years,

bracing slows down the progression and doesn't correct

a curve. Some curves do not progress beyond a certain

degree and do not require further treatment.

Whether he's gotten you in pt or not, I'd have her be

very active and build up her muscles as much as she

can. At least a few times of PT is good if you don't

plan to go on a regular basis. That way, they can show

you appropriate exercises. If you build up the muscles

at the ends of the curve they can actually pull the

curve into a greater degree. ~Moonbeam

____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _

Looking for last minute shopping deals?

Find them fast with Search. http://tools. search.. com/newsearch/

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